It is the Mission of the Nebraska Family Forum (NFF) to promote education policies in our state that preserve and protect parental authority and the integrity of the family. In so doing, we will preserve the cooperative and respectful relationship between school authorities and parents, preserve a family-centered community, and provide a well-rounded education for our kids.

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STOP COMMON CORE

The NFF opposes Common Core for Nebraska's children

Nebraska is one of a handful of states that has not yet adopted the Common Core State Standards. Our state has resisted efforts by the federal government to go along with these national standards, even though millions in federal dollars are being dangled as an incentive. However, the Nebraska Board of Education is now considering contracting themselves with the US Department of Education and adopting the Common Core. Here are the reasons the NFF opposes the Common Core:

What is Common Core?

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a set of content standards at this time limited to English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. These standards, if adopted by a state, will replace existing state standards in these subject areas. That is not all, there are other agreements the states make when they choose to adopt the Common Core State Standards including the new age Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) that will be given twice yearly, and participation in the State Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) which will store testing data along with private student specific data and share that data with other states, the Federal Government, and private interests.

What's wrong with Standards?

Nothing. Nebraska and every other state has standards, most of which are very similar, but Common Core State Standards were created by National Non-Governmental Organizations in Washington DC with no public involvement. Proponents of the CCSS call these standards "state led" but the fact is that the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Council of State School Officers (CCSSO) and their private partners like Achieve and the Gates Foundation.It's Not A National Curriculum Right?

Curriculum follows standards. Good or bad when standards are written and copyrighted by the Federal Government via private partnerships in business and States who agree to Adopt those standards are not free to change any standards. In fact states are allowed to add only 15% of original content standards. The connection between standards and curriculum is clear. As the Brooking Institute wrote in their report "How Well Are American Students Learning?", "The intended curriculum is embodied by standards; it is what governments want students to learn. The differences articulated by state governments in this regard are frequently trivial." So national standards will lead to a national curriculum and control over education will transfer from the hands of parents and local school boards to the US Department of Education and the set of unelected boards, bureaucrats, and private partners the USDOE decides is best.What Does Testing Look Like Under Common Core?

Proponents of the Common Core are excited about the CAT tests which are developed by companies like American Institutes for Research (AIR) with grants from the federal government. AIR "is one of the world's largest behavioral and social science research organizations" and is applying behavioral and social science to educational assessments. These tests are highly statistically accurate and proponents push for implementing the latest and greatest technologies to assist with the accurate measurement of student progress in academics. So what's the problem?

Why does the NFF have reservations about participating in Common Core National Testing?

There is reason to seriously question what these tests are seeking to measure beyond cognitive ability and knowledge sets. There is well documented potential for the development of adaptive test for personality assessment and that companies like AIR have the ability to devise tests that input selected variables that measure “behavioral characteristics”, along with variables that measure language arts, science or math. Award winning child psychologist Dr. Gary Thompson wrote, "It would be relatively “easy” to design a language adaptive test that has behavioral characteristics embedded into the design of the test. Formulas could be designed to produce two sets of results (language and behavior), and then forward the language test results to its intended target (Utah Schools), and the behavioral results to another intended target (Federal Government, Private Agencies)."

Are Nebraska's students disadvantaged by not participating in CAT tests?

NO. Research on cognitive ability tests shows that adaptive tests, and paper-and-pencil tests lead to equivalent scores. Paper-and-pencil tests are also cheaper and the state has more control over the content of the tests and what they are designed to measure. It is nearly impossible for state leaders to provide oversight of CAT tests because no two students will see the same test, a grade-level test will have about 1600 possible questions, and it requires psychometrician professionals to interpret the results of such tests.

What information will they store in these data basis and why should I be concerned?
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the Common Core agenda is the data mining of our children's information outside of parental consent or knowledge. Stored in these data basis that were created as part of the "Race to the Top" grant program is highly personal student data such as social security number, health-care histories, learning disabilities, disciplinary action (from detentions for minor infractions to expulsions), attendance, homework completion, religious affiliations, and any educational or physiological data assessed through CAT. In 2011 portions of FERPA were changed by Arnie Duncan at the USDOE so that data the states share with the Federal government can then be shared with private organizations and companies WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMISSION. Nebraska has already created it's version of the SLDS and is storing student specific data in this computerized system. The company charged with collecting and storing our children's data, inBloom, states in its own privacy policy that it “cannot guarantee the security of the information stored in inBloom or that the information will not be intercepted when it is being transmitted.” The NFF is concerned that if Nebraska adopts Common Core fully our children's personal and family information will have no protections under privacy laws.

GOOD OR BAD OVERALL

Many will argue Common Core based on whether or not the standards are good rigorous standards, whether or not the Common Core will improve education in American, whether a national curriculum will lead to indoctrination of our kids, or whether or not the Common Core will make America's economy more competitive. These are interesting discussions but whatever side you come down on in each of these cases there are a few simple facts about Common Core that make it a dangerous path for American education. (1) States who adopt Common Core lend their constitutional powers and responsibilities to oversee education in their states to the Federal government and move decision making over a child's education further from the hands of parents and communities. (2) There is no way to control the private interests who are highly involved with Common Core or to be certain they have our children's best interest at heart. (3) There is no way to be certain that very private intimate data on our children and by extension our families won't be abused by the Federal Government or private interests with access to this data. And (4) There is NO evidence that further standardizing education and a new testing regime will result in better educations for our children.

The NFF guiding principles are at odds with the Common Core State Standards agenda. Our principle that Family is Key is in jeopardy when parents have less control over what their children learn and how they learn it. Our principle that Freedom in Education is Essential is weakened when our schools are controlled by forces we cannot influence. Our principle that Government Intrusion can be Harmful is a reminder that we must be very careful about what kind of "help" we accept from government because governments who seek to micro-manage the everyday choices of parents in pursuit prescribed outcomes, will do great harm to the integrity of the family and by extension, the well-being of children and society as a whole. For these core reasons the NFF will work to keep Nebraska state schools free.

In the words of Ronald Reagan: “Remember that every government service, every offer of government - is paid for in the loss of some personal freedom... In the days to come, whenever a voice is raised telling you to let the government do it, analyze very carefully to see whether the suggested service is worth the personal freedom which you must forgo in return for such service.”― Ronald Reagan

Join in us in this fight. We need your ACTION!

Write to the Governor, your State Senator, the Legislature's Education Committee, the State Board of Education and let them know that you do NOT want to give up local control of our children’s education and we do NOT want Common Core State Standards in Nebraska! This is happening now so we need voices heard NOW...please write, call, email TODAY!
Governor Heineman http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/mail/govmail.html

6 comments:

I wonder how much longer we, (the people of Nebraska, not the Gov. officals) can "stave" off Common Core. In an article in the Lincoln Journal Star, October 2011, it explains Nebraska's application for a 50 million dollar Race To the Top grant. They go on to say that there are only a few steps left, thanks to Susie Buffet, to attain all the "qualifications" necessary to receive this "grant."

We have been told in the Johnson-Brock School District that Nebraska has alligned it's standards to common core. They are teaching our 4th graders math from a common core book new this year. My family is very upset over this. If you have not seen how they are teaching math, you need to check it out. It seems to us that it will put our students at a great disadvantage because they will not be able to multiply and divide a simple problem.

Common Core WILL BE HERE full force in the elementary schools this next coming school year 2014/15. Not so much in the Secondary schools they are targeting elementary. it has been brought in through Building Bright Futures Organization which is tied to the Gates Foundation..

my kids hate school and cry all the time because they cant multiply and divide simple problems that dont understand and most of the teachers dont know how to teach it to them one of the kids teacher he does both old and new way for math and tells them to do what is easier to them but he even hates common core and we live in UT now but was in NE for awhile

My family is moving there from Colorado and California. I am involved in the stopcommoncorecolorado.webs.com and know that we are heavily involved in Common Core, as we are a blueprint state for it. As I have studied CC in Nebraska(we were excited to escape CC here) I realize that you are also very involved in CC. The state standardized testing there is called Terra Nova. Please google Smarter Balanced testing along with Terra Nova and note that they are the same. Then, do your research on CC and see that in order to do these federally mandated tests you must be aligned to the Common Core Standards, which are only in English and Math now, but, next year, will also be in Science and Social Studies.. There are tests already being administered that lay the groundwork for these.. And the agenda on those are quite disgusting as they pervert American History and basically portray America as a "warmonger" nation and Science will include the National Sex Ed Standards~google those(very disgusting) Nebraska really needs a Stop Common Core group. It is a fact that Bill Gates has given millions and millions to fund the Common Core Standards. From the very beginning, he funded the NGA(national governors assoc.) and the CCSSO (chief council of State School Officers) to meet in private, with no public records, to develop the standards. They are not field tested or benchmarked..Contact Dr. Sandra Stotsky, who sat on the validation committee and refused to validate these standards. Excellent resource is Pioneer Public Policy Research Institute, Truth in American Education or watch the movie a www.commoncoremovie.com....

i lived in Nebraska and have moved to Utah they do common core here the parents and teachers hate it they don't understand how to teach it to the kids and they sure as heck don't understand it my KIDS HATE SCHOOL AND CRY WHEN THEY COME HOME because they don't understand it it needs to stay the same as it is no common core crap if you want kids to learn and have fun learning then don't do it almost 85% of the salt lake valley schools are all home schooled and before they were their education levels were way down and they have doubled if not tripled since home school my kids beg me to do home school so if you want kids to have fun at learning at school and want to go then keep the common core out

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The Personal Impact of Nebraska's School Attendance Law

We began collecting stories in April of 2011 and will continue to collect them as long as the law is abused. The stories we have collected demonstrate how our community has been impacted by Nebraska's school attendance law that counts all absences rather than "unexcused" absences for purposed of "truancy".

It may seem by the district by district breakdown that the law has impacted Millard Public Schools the most, but it is important to note that the Nebraska Family Forum grew out of the Millard Parent Society and therefore the awareness within Millard Public Schools is longstanding.

Out of the 3000+ cases referred to the Douglas County Attorney last year only 400 came from MPS. For every story collected here it is reasonable to assume that they represent dozens more who are affected who have not written their thoughts in a public way.

The Facebook Effect

Nebraska Family Forum: What we Stand For

Mission:

It is the Mission of the Nebraska Family Forum (NFF) to promote education policies in our state that preserve and protect parental authority and the integrity of the family. In so doing, we will preserve the cooperative and respectful relationship between school authorities and parents, preserve a family-centered community, and provide a well-rounded education for our kids.

NFF Guiding Principles:

Family is Key: We believe the family is the single most important element to a child’s ability to learn and be successful in school and life, and parents are the foundation upon which family success rests. For this reason, it’s imperative that the state honor the authority of parents as they exercise their natural rights, obligations, and responsibilities to raise, manage, direct, and educate their children.

Freedom in Education is essential: We believe that flexibility in education, school choice, stimulating curriculum, quality teachers, and innovative education reforms are essential to a family centered education. We support policies that will lead to greater parental influence in education innovation, curriculum, and choice.

Family struggles are a healthy part of life: We believe that the fundamental right of a parent does not cease to exist simply because a parent may fail to be a model parent. Parents often struggle to meet the needs of their children, but this is not in itself sufficient cause for unwanted and unwarranted government intrusion into family life. We join with Father Steven Boes of Boys Town in "proclaiming that not only are there no bad boys, as Father Flanagan taught, but there are no bad families.” There is always at least one person in a family that wants what is best for their children and is willing to ask for and receive the help they need.

Government Intrusion can be Harmful: We believe that the right of parents to raise their children without undue government interference is a fundamental liberty that has long been protected by the Constitution of the United States and is not void upon the enrollment of ones child in a public school. We warn that governments who seek to micro-manage the everyday choices of parents in pursuit prescribed outcomes, will do great harm to the integrity of the family and by extension, the well-being of children and society as a whole.

Mother… I think of all the lessons she has modeled for me throughout my life in topics from boys to academia to love in and of family to the meaning of true success… now I heed her lessons in balancing my life, work and passions. All the while, she is my teacher, one with the honored and sacred name of Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty story tell, Or kiss the place to make it well? My mother.

The Simple Truths

Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves. ~ Ernest Dimnet

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. ~ Oscar Wilde

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. ~ William Butler Yeats

Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another. ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. ~ B. F. Skinner

Education... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading. ~ G. M. Trevelyan

Every educated person is a future enemy. ~ Martin Bormann

I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly. ~ Michel de Montaigne

In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards. ~ Mark Twain

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense. ~ Robert Green Ingersoll

Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants. ~ John W. Gardner

No man who worships education has got the best out of education... Without a gentle contempt for education no man's education is complete. ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

Real education must ultimately be limited to men who insist on knowing, the rest is mere sheep-herding. ~ Ezra Pound

The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. ~ Robert M. Hutchins

The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education. ~ Albert Einstein

To the uneducated, an A is just three sticks. ~ A. A. Milne

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. ~ Albert Einstein

The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. ~ Abraham Lincoln

My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors. ~aya Angelou

Dad kept us out of school, but school comes and goes. Family is forever.

I hated school. Even to this day, when I see a school bus it's just depressing to me. The poor little kids. ~ Dolly Parton

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. ~ Kurt Vonnegut

One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. ~George Herbert

Dad kept us out of school, but school comes and goes. Family is forever.

"The amount of freedom to which a person is entitled is strictly measured by the amount of freedom he is willing to allow his fellow man." ~ Verlan Andersen

"You complain of bad city government. It is ultimately the fault of the people themselves if it is bad... In no way can you bring about decency in your Government so quickly as by backing up the men (and women) who represent your interests, rewarding those who are faithful and punishing those who fail in their duty." ~ Theodore Roosevelt